If you got into the digital printing industry, you must have heard of thermal transfer printing. The principle of thermal transfer printing is somewhat similar to the transfer printing method. Today, we will introduce the principle of it.
In thermal transfer printing, a pattern is first printed on paper with a dispersion-containing dye and a printing i
nk, and then transfer paper is stored for use in a textile printing factory.
When the fabric is printed, the transfer paper and the unprinted face-to-face are pasted together through a thermal transfer printing machine, and the dye on the transfer paper is sublimated and transferred at such a high temperature at a temperature of about 210 ° C (400 T). On the fabric, the printing process is completed without further processing. The process is relatively simple and does not require the necessary expertise in the production of roller printing or rotary screen printing.
Disperse dyes are the only dyes that can sublimate, in the sense that they are the only dyes that can be thermally transferred. Therefore, the process can only be applied to fabrics composed of fibers having affinity for such dyes, including acetate fibers and propylene. Nitrile rayon fiber, polyamide fiber (nylon) and polyester fiber.
In thermal transfer printing, fabric printing plants purchase such printing paper from highly specialized printing paper manufacturers. Transfer paper can be printed according to the requirements of the pattern designer and the customer (off-the-shelf patterns can also be used for transfer paper printing). Thermal transfer printing can be used to print pieces (such as border printing, chest embroidery, etc.). In this case, a specially designed pattern is used.
Thermal transfer printing stands out as a complete fabric printing method from the printing process, thus eliminating the need for large and expensive dryers, steamers, water washers and tenters. Since the printed paper can be inspected before printing, this eliminates the inaccuracy and other symptoms. Therefore, thermal transfer printing fabrics rarely appear defective. If you are considering to choose a good printing method, thermal transfer printing will be a good choice.
